In a major milestone in India-Bangladesh Railway cooperation, 20 Broad Gauge locomotives were handed over at Darshana-Gede Interchange Point and virtually flagged off by the Hon’ble Minister of Railways of India Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. Hon’ble Minister of Railways of Bangladesh, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan received the locos on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh. High Commissioner Pranay Verma also joined the virtual ceremony from Rail Bhabhan in Dhaka.

The handing over of these 20 locomotives, under grant assistance from the Government of India, fulfills an important commitment made during the visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E Sheikh Hasina to India in September 2022. These locomotives will help augment the capacity and efficiency of Bangladesh Railway for handling the growing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh.

While addressing the occasion, Hon’ble Minister of Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the immense potential for cooperation between the two railways and expressed hope that the handing over of 20 locos as a token of friendship from India would add to the ease and comfort of rail travel for the people of Bangladesh. The transfer of these locos to Bangladesh is a fine example of the sharing of resources and expertise for mutual growth and development.